w atkins



W. H. WATKINS TRACTOR FOR AERIAL ROPEWAYS AND THE LIKE.

Amlcmon FILED ocT. 28.:918'.

Patented Aug. 19, 1919. 1

8 SHEETS-SHEET l.

w. H; WATKINS.

TRACTOR FOR AERIAL ROPEWAYS AND THE-LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 28. 1918.

1,313,358. Patented Aug. 19,1919.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

THE COLUMIIIA ILANOIARAIII cm, wAsHINliTnN, n. c.

. H. WATKINS.

TRACTOR FOR AERIAL ROPEWAYS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 28, I918.

Patented Aug. 19, 1919.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 3- v FIG. 3.

W. H. WATKINS.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH 0).. WASHINGTON. n. c.

Patented Aug. 19, 1919. v

W. H. WATKINS.

TRACTOR FOR AERIAL ROPEWAYS AND THE LIKE.

APPLKCATION FILED OCT. 28. I918.

Patented Aug. 19, 1919.

8 SHEETSSHEET 5.

Aws/vro W W. H. WATKINS.

TRACTOR FOR AERIAL ROPEWAYS AND THE LiKEP APPLICATION FILED OCT. 28. I918.

Patented Aug. 19, 1919.

8 SHEETSSHEET 6.

FIG. 7.

W. H. WATKINS.

TRACTOR FOR AERIAL ROPEWAYS AND THE LIKE.

/APPL|CATION FILED 007. 2B. T9IB.

1,313,358. T v Patented Aug. 19, 1919.

8 SHEETSSHEET 7.

FIG. 8.

FIG. TO.

m ns/v we,

Tm: coLuMmA PLANpanAPu c0, WASHINGTON, n. c.

w. H. WATKINS.

TRACTOR FOR AERIAL ROPEWAYS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 28.1918.

1,313,358; PatentedAug. 19,1919.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

1=|c..|4. FIG.I5. y l

UNITED srATEs WILLIAMV-AI-IUIGI-I ATKINS; or HAW ELL; ENGLAN Tucson roia Ancafnr. norEwAYs m5 LIKE. n

To all whom it may concern Be itknownthat I, VVILLIAMITUGH VVAT- KINS, a subject of the Kin of Great Britain and Ireland, and a-fresident of l'lanwell, 'county of Middlesex, England, have invent-ed certain new and useful Improve- "ments in Tractors for Aerial R-opeways and series ofsupported and continuous spans of elevated rope track, or the straight, curved, or inclined rigid rail, which may form part of the" track system. I i

A tractor is so constructed and arranged as to negotiate or travel past the track-supportingstandards and to be under automatic control when mounting and descending the distorted, in the loaded sense, catenariesof the system series of elevated spans of-rope track, and to provide for its own propulsion and fortraction for other loadbearing Carriers, one or more], such carriers conveniently accompanying a tractor by being coupled and connectedby a 'loa'dbeam thereto,and if it is so desired, an attendant or operator may travel with the tractor, means being provided. for slinging-an inclosed platform therefrom, and the tractor may carry by the saine provision any form-of accessory for handling loads, a hoisting winch, for instance, but such accessories, however, do not form part of the pre'sent'invention.

The tractive motor power employed in the present instance is that provided by an internal combustion engine, but it will be readily understood 7 that other systems of motive power can be employed andlikewise automatically controlled by the means provided, and therefore, I do not confine my invention to any particular system or type of motive power. The said motive power agent together with its latentenergysupply or power generator and the control gear-there for, form an integral partof the tractor, and provides the required motive power for its propulsion and for traction. Tlie motive power agent conveniently mounted on or Associated with t forming part of an under structure' hr hanger pivotally dependingfrom and be e by the carriage of the tractor, -=is autoniati cally controlled as the, tractor 1n'o'u1its for descends an elevated span of rope track, by the relative positionsto each other "6f the aforesaid "carriage and'flthedepending hanger, regulating the po wer supply and also operating a tra k brake through it.-

able lever gear.

befor'emention'ed j'c'o'ntrol 'geartogether with the free power clutch, is also arranged to be automatically operated by engaging,during thepassage of the tractor, suitable means mounted on thecarrying rope supports, and, if so desired, the control gear may be manually manipulated -In order that the control gear shall be effectual and not be afiectedby any undue oscillation of the depending hanger, one or more 'dashp'ots are; employed to arrest or damp idle swinging and too sudden movements'of the hanger.

The tractor is propelled by driving the traveling -wheels of the carriage thereof through suitable gearing from' the motive power agent, or, alternatively, theearriage is provided with one ormore power-driven r V I H p g e above isfa'c'entrifugal brake on' the power shaftand an automatic free powercl'utch on the} carrlage, and the sprocket wheels or their equivalents which engage with the linkingpins or equivalents or an endless chain or band forming a selflaying track which is grooved 'to-engage with and'travel on the track rope, thus providing the maximum of frictional contact surface'to enhancethe life of thetrack-rope, while. insuringpropulsion and providing for traction. Or, as a further alternative ',jin'

stead of propelling 7 the tractor wholly 1 by frictional contact of the track rope,'the'tractor is draWirby the motive power-agent thereof, driving through suitable gearing one or more warping sheaves or their equiv- "alents rotatably mounted in the carriage,

with which engages, by-apartcoil or coils, i

a light hauling rope extending throughout the length of the track system the powered rotation of-the warping sheaves rproviding propulsion by winding on :and off the hauling rope, thesaid hauling 'ropefwhich; is

continuous and of light section andflexibilrty, is carried ad acent-tothetrack-by resting on the crossheads of the standards.

The actual engaging contact surfaces and treads of :the traveling wheels, or,- alternama of the swa ing track, eat" the track rope, and ofthe warping sheaveswith the hauling rope;toaugment prepulsion and traction, may have ncorporated therewith a offr-ictiomp And in order that others mayclearly 111 1- derstand how my invention is carried iiito effect and practice, reference is to be had to .thefollowing description and the hereunto appended :eight sheets .ofdrawings, in whichz a; I

. Figure 1 .is a side elevation of a tractor complete, shown ascending. an incline. I

Fig. 2-1is an end elevation of a tractor .complete shown negotiating a track support. 5 M

Fig. 3 is a part side elevation toan enlarged scale, showing the tractor descending decline this illustration has certain details omitted for moreclearly defining thegearing up of. the traveling wheels, the dashpot means for preventingidle and too sudden oscillatory movements of the depending hanger, and also themeans for automatically braking tractor carriage. to underside of track elements. Figyl is apart transversesectional elevation ofthe carriage, also to an enlarged scale, showin'gthe said braking-means, one

' of the pivotal bearings, of the depending hanger, the central. pinion and its hollow shaft containing a pushrod,themeans for actuatingsald rod for disconnecting or connecting the power-driven and driving elements of thetractor, and the means whereby the. slipper brake is -arranged and enabled to clear a track support. 7 7 I Fig. 5isa side elevation further illustrative of said disconnecting-and connecting means shown in Fig. 4, and its combination with the power control gear. j 7

Figs. 6 and 7 are, respectively, side. elevation and plan'views of a'tractor carriage provided w1th;warp1ng sheaves engaging- 1 parts inthe several figures, and 1 referring first to the arrangement of a tractor,Figs. land 2,'the tractor carriage, designated by curve of rigid rail.

its side frames a, a is mounted by its powered traveling wheels (1 on the rope track-j andbears 'a depending hanger a pivotally from t-he central pivots a of the carfrictional component, such as "ferodo, well-known fabric having a high co-eificient' riageframe d, if; said hanger a being de- "pended to one side only of the track rope y' 'to enable the tractor to negotiatefthetracksupporting elements, and also depending in such a mafineras to insure that the centers of gravity and area of the complete tractor shall lie verticallybeneath the center of the track,- and, borne centrally to the carriage a, a .so as to compensate and distribute the forces transmitted thereby to the powerdriven traveling wheels 1%: the said hanger a carries the understructure a and the mo- Ytive power agent a together withits power generator, or, alternatively, its latent energy supply a andthe power controlling agent a I do not confine a sefiaa particular form of, orthe nianner described of connecting the depending hanger a to the carriage (1,0 as Imay use any other suitable form of hanger, and may connect it in any other suitable way.

The provision of-the eyes a and eye a? is for the purpose, if so desired, of slinging loads being carried by the tractor itself, af-

fixing an operators platform, or for the attrunnion-incasing member a formingthe coupling. and end pieceof a load-carrying beam a for the suspension ofthe loads to be transported When ,connectingone or more attendant. load-bearing; carriers. The conplings al and a permit of the tractor and attendant carriers to negotiate horizontal and vertical curves and changes of direction in the track, as when passing an oscillating saddle is, or when traversing a terminal ,The driving spindle b of the motive power agent a has secured thereon a centrifugal brake Z2 and a sprocket pinion?) which drives, by means of a silent chain bf, the sprocket wheel 72, which silent chain drive b b and b? isnot claimed.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4,, the said sprocket wheel 6 forms'the driving part with a casing b of an automatically operated spring influenced frictional clutch, of which one spring only bf'is indicated, which clutch, being of the interposed frictional rings In, b 'variety, andofuniversal application, is not claimed. Said driving. part Of the clutch is mounted byaball raceb on the inner "and driven part 5 of the clutch, and issecured to the hollow shaft'b? to whichis made fastthe central pinion Z2 gearing with 5 the spur wheels 6 of both of the traveling wheels a thus completing the gearing up of the motive power agent a when both driving and driven parts 6, b and b are under the spring influenced frictional contact of the interposed friction rings 6 ,12 I do'not-confine myself to" the particular form of, or the/manner described'ofgearing up the motive power agentafto the travel ing wheels a as I may use any other suitable form of gearing, and I may also gear the traveling wheels a ;on" the outside-jof the carriage a, a instead of between the side frames'a and a 1 For the purpose "of automatically-disen- 0 gaging the drivingandthe'driVen means of the=tractor,' the hollow'slraft b carries therein apushrod 0, one end 0 of which faces a stud 0 of the clutch, and the remote end 0, extends beyond the shaft and is 3 adapted to be engaged and disengaged'from the star wheel'ctby the annular surface cam thereof with' its high andlow planes 0? and e? respectiy'ely, made continuous by interposing inclines 071K596 Figs. 4 and 5); V From the foregoingdescription and reference to the first five figuresit will be readily understoodthat in any particular section of the track systemwhere it is desired to'automatically slow down or stop thetractor an arm of the star wheel 0 comes in contact with a stop 0 specially located for this purpose on a track support ZFig. 2- or likewise carried adjacent' to the track; the said star wheel 0' is thus partly rotated 40 during its passage, bringing a high plane 0 of the annular surface cam into engage- '=I ne1it with the extended end 0 of the push rod p and by having therebyrpushed, and by: retaining the end'c against the stud 0 "of the clutch, frees the spr ingfinfluenced "contact of the interposed friction rings 6 79 of the driving and driven partsrespe'ctively ofthe clutch, and causes the sprocket wheel b together-with the casing 19 form- 'ing the driving part of the clutch, to-run free on the ball' race Zfifthus allowing. the -motive power agent a; to run without-im- F parting motion to 'thecarriage; but in order that it shall not be wasteful of motive power '55 when thus running freely, the power Coh- "trolling agent a automatically decreases the power supply, bytitsbei-ng combinedly. arranged to be actuated by the same movement of" the star wheel 'raisingia jockey wheel (Z by means of the star wheel having 'aglilre but "circumferential=cam face composed of-correspondinghigh and low planes (5 and (Z and interposing inclines d said jockey'wheel 03 being carried by the lever '65 d having' a fulcrum pin "03 and provided with an adjustable slotted connection (Z for actuating throughfthe medium of the short 'verticalrod d rocking shaft d, crank arm connections (5 and the dependingi rod (Z the adjustable lever of "the power-controlling agent a through the adjustable connectiond thus economizi ng the motive power. The three adjustment devices d, d and Z I insure the required re'l'ativeangular movement and latitude desired for-power control. 1

lt will likewise be readily understood that thepowered traveling; of the tractor is a'utomatica'lly reestablished by the star wheel-c meeting asucceeding stop distantly and similarly located to the preceding stop 0 andibeing rotated a further part turn, and thus bringing a pair of low'pla'nes' 0 andjl of their' respective-cam surfaces forward, red stores the former ()OlidltlOIl, thereby com pleting a cycle of -operationsgwhich automati'cally 'connectsgup, byfimean's of the 'Lelutch, theygearijngpof. the motive power agent af to the'traveling wheels a? of the tractor 55 and incidentally augmenting the power supply by the lowering ofthe jockey wheel (Z actuating the power-controlling agent a through the medium of itsbeforedescribed connecting system.

' Reference now to the diagrammatic Figs. 11 -andg12, which respect vely lndicate a f tractor "ascending under augmented motive power, and descending with the power decreased andeconomized, togetherwith Fig. 5will make clear how the gradient of the track-j through the mediumof the carriage Inc -thereon, in itsangularrelationto the depending hanger. a is made available for regulatingthe motive power of-the tractor by actuating the power-controlling agentv a by means-of the depending rod d which, for this function, may be considered equivalentl'yconnected: direct to the carriage; and is diagrammatically so indicated in Figs.

11 and: l2, it being readily understood that the before-described adjustable slotted lover kd f carrying the jockey wheel (Z and together :with the cam star wheel c n'loves-integrally without self actuationas. a part of the carriage a, a, as the'ftractor ascends or .descends the catenary of the rope track, and is therefore a combined, but independent device forflikewise actuating the power-controlling agent a througlrthe same connecting system d, (P, 0Z d (#9, d ,;d and (Z Referring again to Figs. 3 and 4,-inelose proximity to, and immediately surrounding the positionoccupied by the track rope j and carried midwaybetweenand below the two axes of thetrav elinglwheels a of thecar riage (1,0 and occupying'the space between the side frames (0 and a under the central pivots-a and pinion shaft?) and pivotally depending from pivots er-of the lever which isconnectedto the'undersid'e" of the with the underside of the track rope j, and

it is operated by being raised by the spigot e situated at that end of the lever e which slides-upward between guides e of the side- 7 a frame a traversing theslot e of the lever 6' when the said lever e is turned about its fulcrum pin 6 through the medium of its pin connection 6 to theadjustable slotted link 6 the adjustable end of which is en-' gaged and retardedby the pin 6 of the wiper e outstanding from the boss 6 of the pivotally depending hanger a the said hanger a? tending to assume the vertical, while the carriage, carrying with it the track slipper brake lever system and adapting itself to excessive declines of rope track, provides the necessary relative angular movement to operatethe foregoing system of levers to apply the brake.

The track slipper brake is enabled toclear the track rope supporting saddles by being deflected sidewise, as indicated by dot-anddash lines Fig. 4, .by its own guiding ramp engaging with and sliding on a mating ramp of the saddle during the passage of the carriage, thus swinging itself at right angles to and clear 'o-f'the rope track, about the pivots e. The track slipper brake oombinedly serves to retain the carriage to the rope track whether the brake be applied or free.

The provision of dashpots f pivoted to the .tive methods of'arranging circumferential or carriage side-frames a, and (1 having plungers f pivotally connected at f to the hanger a and above the central pivots a thereof, is for preventing idle and too sudden'oscillat ing movements of the depending hanger, and thus to make conformable the relative angular movements of the carriage to the depending hanger, for automatically con- .trolling the tractor by means of the beforedescribed devices. V

Referring now to Figs. 6 and 7, g is a sup-- plemental quiescent'hauling line rope, carried adjacent to the track rope j, on that particular sidethereof which finds provision for their common support; said hauling rope g engaging with warping sheaves g and 9 located on the gapped side of the tractor, and made secure to the power-driven axles of the traveling wheels a of the carriage a, a the hauling rope being wound on and off the warping sheaves g and 9 which are stepped in relation,longitudinally, with one another to provide rope clearance. As an additional provision-1 against any possible chafing of the rope where it crosses near itself, a rotatably mounted guide disk 9 is interposed to retain its stepped separation. It will be readily understood that a tractor soequipped hauls itself and provides for traction on severe inclines. I do not, however,confine-my invention to the number '2. A tractor for elevated or-form of, or the particular manner described of gearing up and carrying the warping sheaves with the tractor carriage, as this arrangement is capable of extensive modification.

; In Figs. 8, 9 and 10, to which I will now refer, the carriage a, a is provided with two loose-running wheels h, without teeth, but

having a central flange if; said wheels carry an endless sprocket roller chain 71?, having attached, rope grooved segments 7L which are so constructed as to buttagainst oneanother and in such a manner as to provide a longitudinally rigid cambered track surfacefor engaging by its rope groove, thus made contlnuous, the track rope y. The provision of skates it carried across and between the slde-frames a and a of the car- .riag'e, is; for the purpose of preventing any unduetors1ona-l movement 1n the chain k .sa dskates k may be normally clearof the chainh Meshing, and in f gear with the rollersof, the chain k is a centrally disposed sprocket wheel h which is secured to the power-driven shaft b, which sprocket wheel 7L together with its shaft, forms the axial center of the appliedloads transmitted by the hanger a and borne by the carriage sideframes afand a to the wheels hand the selflaying track h h this arrangement, thus providing forpropulsion and for traction on ste'epfgradients, without undue wear of the track rope 1' resulting.

Figs. 13, 14 and 15 are respective alternagrooves of. the traveling wheels at and their alternative rope-engagmg elements.

Having, now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inventlon and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is L- 1. An automatic tractor for elevated trackways including a traveling carriage, a hanger pendulously supported from the carriage,

means for propelling the carriage, braking means for arresting .the speed of the car riageyand normally held in an inoperative posit on, means for controlling said means. for propelling the carriage, and. means whereby the relative movementof the car riage and hanger controls said latter means and also the-braking means. 1

trackways consisting' of a traveling carriage, traction. wheels mounted in said carriage, a hanger pendulously supported from the carriage, a power unit mounted on the carriage, a driving connection-between the power unit and the traction wheels including a clutch, and

means for controlling the operation of the;

power'unit simultaneously with temper tion of the' clutchi p I A 3. A tractor for elevated trackways 0911 5 slsting of a traveling carriage, tract on wheels{mounted in said carriage, a hanger wheelsmounted iin said riage, a'li anger p diile l i 'p e f fem h eeea, power unit mounted onthe hanger, control means for thepoweruniga driving con e c;

tionbetween the power unit and the traction wheels including aclutch, clutch operating means, means for operat ng the ro'n'trlol.v

means for the jpower unit, and me ansv for automatically and simulta ously'op'erating' the clutchoperating means andsaid r'neans folficontrolling thepowerjunit 5. A tractor for 'elevated tr'ackwaysf con SlStlllg of a travelingjearr age, tractlon whe ls mo n ed.lni. sa d ag a anger pendulously supported from the carriage,

a" power' unit mounted ontheh'anger, and

means for driving the traction wheels in-. cluding a gearlocated between said traction wheels and adapted to engagetheperi heryof each, a shaft for said ear,a com ined driving sprocket and clutgh device carried by said shaft, a drivingconnection between said sprocket andthe power'iinit', a clut h "l operating member concentriewith the shaft on whlch the ear is mounted, cam means for automatically shifting the said clutch operating member.

V 6. A tractor for elevated trackways consisting of a traveling carriage, traction wheels mounted in said carriage, .a hanger pendulously supported from said carriage,

a power unit mounted in the hanger, a drlving connection between the power unit and the traction wheels including an automatically operated clutch, and means for controlling the speed of the power unit including a plurality of connected lever elements, and cam means for actuating one of said lever elements, said cam means being automatically actuated and also adapted to operate the said automatic clutch of the driving connection between the power unit and traction wheels. 7. A tractor for elevated trackways con- 7 sisting of a traveling carriage, traction wheels mounted on said carriage, a hanger pendulously supported from the carriage, a power unit carried by the carriage, a driving connection between the power unit and p p for elevated trackways coirl sistlng' of a travellng,,vcarriage,a traction the traction wheels including aclutclncon trol lifeans for theip ower unit and means for a simultaneously actuating thecluteh and ean";

trol means for the power unit, consisting of a duplex cam pivotally supported on the abutment engaging members.

"8. A"tractor for elevated trackways in cludingthe combination with the track and fixed abutments located adj acent thereto, of; a traveling carr1age,'tract1on wheels mounted 1n saldcarrlage and engaging said track,

hanger pendulously supported from'the car riage, a power unit carried by the han er-,1 a driving connection betiveeirtl e power unit and-thetraction-wheels including a clutch,

a clutch operating connection, control means, 1 tor the power unlt eon ectlons' for operat ing said control j'means, andan" actuator member for both the clutch operating mem: her and the means for operatin the control means {fiorthe power unit, said actuator unit consisting ,Tof rotatably supported star daptefdlto engage with, the abutmcntsflf riage and adapted to engage with the trackay Ivv hen'- the carriage assumes an oblique position with reference to the pendulously supported hanger.

10. A tractor for elevated trackways including the combination with the trackway, of a traveling carriage, traction wheels mounted in said carriage and adapted to travel on said trackway, a hanger pendu-.

'lously supported from the carriage, a. power unit carried by the hanger and operatively connected with the traction wheels, and brake means carried by the carriage and adapted to engage with the trackway, said brace means consisting of a trackway engagingshoe pivotally mounted on an axis parallel to the trackway, a lever for supporting said shoe, and a link connection between the said lever and the pendulously supported hanger, whereby when the carriage assumes an oblique position with reference to the pendulously supported hanger the brake shoe will automatically grip the trackway.

11. A. tractor for elevated trackways including the combination with the trackway, of a traveling carriage, traction wheels mounted in said carriage and adapted to 1 carriage and having 'a' plurality of 'ollset unit carried by the hanger a'ncloperatively connected with the traction wheels; and

' brake means carried by the carriage'aclapteol v to engage with the trackway,' said brake:

means consisting of a traek'engaging shoe mounted onan axis parallel with thetrack a lever frame cllsposed transversely'ofthe 'trackway and having the axis of thebrake shoe journaled therein, a spring maintaining the brake shoe in its normal position, a and anoperative connection between saiclf lever frame and the pendulously supported.

hanger whereby relative movement between the carriage and hanger will 'caiise'the}shift plleation of the brake shoe;

travel on said-trzwkwa'y, a han'gerpenduf lously'supportecl from said carriage and carrying a power plant for propellingthe wheeled carriage, and meansjcarriecl by'i'the, "carriage and connected withfthe'fpenduloush hanger at one side of itsxisior prevent-Y undue oscillation of 'the'jcalrriage with in reerence to the hanger, of Vice versa.

13. A tractor for eleyatedtraekways consisting of a wheeled-carriagefadapted' t'o' travel on said trackway, a: hanger pendu-H lously supported from the carriage, and;

having a power plant mountedithereou {for propelling the wheeled carriage,- draw-bar; means onthe carrlage for faclhtatmg ts conneotlon with another tractor .ordevlc-e to e f the leverframefand onsequent a -f I V a sisting of a traveling carriage and a hanger 12. A tractor for 'elevatecltraokways 'con% I sisting of a wheeled 'carriag'e' adaptecl "1J9} be pulledalong thetrackway; and a sp hei'i' ca'l trunnion eouplingcarrie'd by theha'n'ger: for attaching or supporting load carrying devices; I V

' 14. A tractor for elevated trackways consisting' of a lwheeled'fcarriage aclapte d to travel on said track'way, a hanger pendulousl'y supported" from said} carriage,v a power plant carried by the hanger, control means I for the power" plant carried by the hanger,' and "an hoperative connection between the frame of the carriage and saidi control means, whereby the relative move ment of the carriage with reference to the pen d'ulous' hanger will govern the contrcl means for the power unit.

15". A traotor for elevated traekways eonpenclulou sly supported therefrom, traction Wheels mounted in said carriage and provicl etl with traction grooves for straddling the ti'aokwayl said traction-grooves being provijdecl with recesses in the opposite side walls thlereo f anti-slipping tread n1ean$ eed;i a a e 16." A tractoif' j for, elevatecl' trackways incluclinga traeling carriage, traction wheels journalegl in said carriage, a hanger pendulou'sl'y 'supported fromithe carriage, a power connected with the traction wheelis, and waipingsheayes' mounted on;,the axl es of the-tractionwheels I w In testimony whereof I have aflixed signature this 24th day ofSeptember5-19l8.

WILLIAM HUGH WATKINS; Q

Copies of th i s patent niay bejohtainemllfor fijvie eeiit s eacln liy a ddi'essingi tn coznini ssioner er iratentg unit carried by the hangerand operatively 

